Skip to content

Please be aware that some material may contain words, descriptions or illustrations which will not reflect current scientific understanding and may be considered in today's context inaccurate, unethical, offensive or distressing.

The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Letter, 'Observations on a comet (Caroline Herschel's of 21 December 1788)' from William Herschel to Joseph Banks

Reference number: L&P/9/123

Date: 1789

Description

Subject: Astronomy

Published in Philosophical Transactions, as 'Observations on a comet. In a letter from William Herschel, LL. D F. R. S. to Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. P. R. S'

Read 2 April 1789

Reference number
L&P/9/123
Earliest possible date
1789
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
4 pages
Format
Manuscript

Creator names

William Herschel

View page for William Herschel

Caroline Lucretia Herschel

View page for Caroline Lucretia Herschel

Use this record

IIIF manifest

View​ IIIF ​ manifest Opens in new tab

Open in Mirador viewer Opens in new tab

Export this record

Download PDF Opens in new tab

Citation

William Herschel, Caroline Lucretia Herschel, Letter, 'Observations on a comet (Caroline Herschel's of 21 December 1788)' from William Herschel to Joseph Banks, 1789, L&P/9/123, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/l-and-p_9_123/letter-observations-on-a-comet-caroline-herschels-of-21-december-1788-from-william-herschel-to-joseph-banks, accessed on 15 January 2026

Link to this record

https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/l-and-p_9_123/letter-observations-on-a-comet-caroline-herschels-of-21-december-1788-from-william-herschel-to-joseph-banks

Embed this record

<iframe src="https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/embed/items/l-and-p_9_123/letter-observations-on-a-comet-caroline-herschels-of-21-december-1788-from-william-herschel-to-joseph-banks" title="Letter, 'Observations on a comet (Caroline Herschel's of 21 December 1788)' from William Herschel to Joseph Banks" allow="fullscreen" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="500px"></iframe>

Related Publications

Hierarchy

This item is part of:

Related Fellows

Explore the collection

  • Letters and Papers

    'Letters and Papers' contains the scientific correspondence sent to the Royal Society through the 18th century, many of which were published in its journal.

    Dates: 1741 - 1806

    View collection